Staff living at a Cambridge hospital have been banned from smoking in their homes – and claim a woman nearly fell victim to a rapist while she had a cigarette on a dark footpath.

The smoking ban at the Addenbrooke’s site came into effect on January 1, meaning there is nowhere for anyone to smoke on the Cambridge University Hospitals campus, which includes the Rosie and research institutes.

But it has emerged the ban also covers the homes of staff who live and work at the hospital.

Richard Heath, 46, a hospital cleaner who lives in Grantchester House, said: “A young woman from the flats was forced to go and have a cigarette late at night and had to walk right out onto Long Road along a dark footpath because we are banned from smoking in our homes.

“While she was there a man approached her and told her he was going to drag her into the bushes. I and two other men arrived at this point and the man ran off.

“This woman could have been raped. It is a disgrace that we are not allowed to smoke in our own homes where we are causing no harm to anyone else.

“Now we are forced to walk right off the grounds of the hospital in the dark. Banning us from smoking at home must be against our human rights.”

Before the ban, smokers were able to use designated areas and shelters to indulge in their habit.

Hospital bosses previously banned smoking on site in 2006 but found it was unenforceable.

A trust spokesman said: “We take the personal safety of our staff very seriously. We operate a 24/7 security operation.

“If staff members have any concerns about personal safety incidents they should raise it with a security officer.

“Staff have been aware of our intention to impose a smoking ban for over six months.

“Our survey of nearly 1,000 staff showed nearly 78 per cent were in support of a smoking ban.

“We have a number of initiatives to support any staff who want to give up smoking.”